Ten Hamas fighters were killed during a large-scale Israeli military operation in the occupied West Bank, with Israeli forces conducting operations, including airstrikes, in Tulkarem and the Al-Faraa refugee camp. The reports came a day after the Israeli military rescued a hostage who was among those abducted in Hamas’ attack on October 7. The military operation led Hamas to report that 10 of its fighters had been killed in the West Bank.
In a separate incident, the U.N. food agency announced that it was pausing the movement of all staff in Gaza after one of its vehicles was hit by bullets near an Israeli military checkpoint. This incident highlights the challenges faced by humanitarian organizations in delivering assistance in the region due to increasing violence. The U.N. human rights office also expressed concerns about Israel’s security operation in the West Bank, stating that it could further worsen the already catastrophic situation in Palestinian areas.
Israeli authorities recovered the body of a soldier who was abducted and killed by Hamas in October, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mourning the soldier’s death. The war in Gaza, which began with Hamas-led militants attacking southern Israel, has resulted in numerous casualties and abductions. An investigation into a deadly rampage by Israeli settlers in the West Bank found that the army did not respond decisively enough, but no punishments were announced.
The Biden administration imposed sanctions on a West Bank Jewish settler group and the security chief of another group responsible for violence against Palestinian civilians. Efforts to reach and assist a Greek-flagged tanker ablaze in the Red Sea were blocked by Houthi rebels. President Biden’s top Middle East adviser held talks in Doha with senior Qatari leaders on ongoing efforts to complete a cease-fire and hostage deal between Israel and Hamas.
Israeli airstrikes on Gaza killed at least 16 people, including women and children, prompting Palestinian officials to condemn the attacks. The Security Council was set to vote on a resolution to extend the U.N. peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon and demand a halt to exchanges between Hezbollah militants and Israeli forces. Talks aimed at a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas were set to move from Egypt to Qatar, with hopes of achieving a temporary pause in the ongoing conflict.
